Kolkata, Sep 9 (PTI) Director Srijit Mukherji has
screened the trailer of his upcoming film 'Gumnaami', that has
already stirred controversies for delving into theories over
Netaji Subash Chandra Bose's 'disappearance', before leaders
of All India Forward Bloc, a party founded by Bose.

The film, which got the CBFC clearance in the last
week of August, will hit the screens on October 4.

Mukherji, who has faced flak from several members of
the Bose family over the film, told reporters he explained to
the AIFB leaders that he has sought to project all three
theories over Netaji's 'disappearance' in a balanced manner.

The director said he did not portray Gumnaami Baba, a
hermit spotted in Uttar Pradesh's Faizabad in the 1970s, as
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

"Senior AIFB leaders have seen the trailer and have
agreed to see the premier of the film. A 20-member AIFB
delegation will decide whether 'Gumnaami' hurt the sentiments
of the people and followers of Netaji," Mukherji said.

Senior AIFB leaders Naren Dey, Haripada Biswas,
Debabarata Biswas, Naren Chatterjee were present at the
screening on Sunday at the state party headquarters.

"We have watched the trailer but everything can't be
understood in the preview of a film," Chatterjee told PTI.

He said the party leadership heard Mukherji's argument
that the film referred to the three theories but he did not
seek to project any one of them, leaving it for the audience
to decide.

"But if there is any effort to denigrate Netaji or
spread misinformation about our icon, we will strongly protest
against it," he said.

Chatterjee said the party secretariat will take a call
on the invite to attend the premier.

Last week, a statement signed by 33 members of the
Bose family had contended that "a misleading and defamatory
campaign was being made to malign the image and legacy of the
legendary leader".